265 pp, 8vo (8 7/16" H), hard cover in dust jacket. B&w photos. "On the night of June 21, 1944, the Luftwaffe attacked the American air base at Poltava. Unchallenged by the Red Air Force (who were to have provided all air defense), the Germans bombed the field for more than an hour, damaging or destroying more than sixty B-17s, along with virtually the entire supply of fuel, ammunition, and material at Poltava. Why did this tragedy occur? Infield has unearthed evidence that it probably happened on orders from the Kremlin. Stalin, he maintains, was looking not toward the immediate goal of defeating the Axis powers, but toward his own long-range plans for world domination: the Soviet dictator saw 'Operation Franti c' a s a wa y of ma ki ng U.S. forces look impotent, while still making possible the continued flow of American military equipment and know-how. As a result, the hard work of many courageous and resourceful men - captured in Infield's astute character sketches and vivid combat narratives - was largely wasted...(Infield also writes that) the Poltava affair was a clear warning of the rigid polarization that would mark the post-war world." Previous owner's name inked out on free front endpaper. Dust jacket is price clipped, light to moderate edge wear, a few small closed tears - some with creases, 1 1/2" x 1/4" chip at top of rear panel, very slight fading to spine, light rubbing, crease down front flap, stain at bottom inside edge of spine. VG/ G